Circular loom



June 3, 1930. R. G. CLARK ,7

CIRCULAR LOOM Filed March 16. 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 avwwntoz Faber, (a C/ar x,

35 his 6141 032)? "f June 3, 1930. R. e. CLARK CIRCULAR LOOM Filed March 16, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June .3, 1930.

R. G. CLARK CIRCULAR LOCI)" Filed March 16, 1928 S Sheets-Sheet 3 awumtoz fiaerf G Clark,

Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE ROBERT G. CLARK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CIRCULAR 1.00M

' Application filed March 16, 1928. Serial No. 262,161.

My invention relates-to looms of the circular type and has for its main objects and advantages to providea loom on which weavin may be done at a much greater 6 speedt an formerly possible and by which a material saving is effected by-the elimination ofselvages from the finished fabric.

Another object is to provide a loom on which a great variety of textures and color combi 10 nations may be woven and which may be set up or made ready with a minimum expenditure of" labor.

I A further object is toprovide a loom "of comparatively simple construction, having.

1 no parts readily broken .or apt to get out of order, and in which all the parts are readily accessible. A, still further object is to make the loom thoroughlyautomatic in 30 shown partly in cross-section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig.} 3 is a cross-sectional, of a part of the loom;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top view, prin- 3 cipally to show the revolving shuttles;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top View of a certain cam;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another cam;

4 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view of still another cam; and" .Fig. 8 is a side elevation of some auxiliary parts -The views are drawn to different scales and, to sim lify the drawings, parts have 5 been omit-te from some of the views. f

In a general-way the 100m maybe said .to consist of a circular table 10 on top-of which, and adjacent toitsperiphery, are placed 9.

i plurality of bobbins 11. lhe warp-threads side elevation 12, as theyare unwound from these bobbins, are engaged b the heddles 13 and 13 and passed throng a circular throat 14 which is placedconcentric with the table but at aconsiderable distance above it. As the hed- 55 dles alternately lift and lower the warp threads, a plurality of revolving shuttles 15 weave the weft threads between these. The

material 16, which is wovencylindri'cal or tubular, passes" over a roll 17 and is finally co wound on a friction driven roll 18.

The machine will now be described in detail and reference is now made to 1 and 3. The table 10 is supported by four posts 19 which also support the upper frames 65 of the loom. The loom is driven by power imparted to the ulley 20. This pulley is attached to the main shaft 21 'tvhich revolves in the double bearing 22 and it is provided at its other end with a worm 2'3which drives a 7 p wormgear 24. The wormgear is contained in the casing 25 and is rigidly attached on a turned down shoulder formed on the cast iron disc 26. This disc wheel rotates horizontally on the stationary, center shaft 27' 75 which is rigidly mounted in thevertical bearing 28 formed on the cross frame 29, which .is also supported by-the posts 19 at a distance below the table 10. I

.Heddle-actuating cams 30 and 31 extend s0 upwardly and. outwardly from the per1phcry of the disc wheel 26 and these cams are separated by a spacing member 32. Fragments of these parts are shown m Fig. 7,

their functions will be explainedlater. An 85 annular gear 33 is also attached to this disc wheel. This gear ring drives a pmlon 34 which is pinned to a short shaft 35. The

shaft 35 rotates in a bearing 36 cast on the stationary disc 37 which is attached to the 90. center shaft 27 so as to prevent rotation. i An annular thread spacer 3-8 is attached to an upwardly extending, annular shoulder 39 formed near thrrperiphery of the disc, and an annular seat 40 is formed on top of the disc.

A pinion 41 is pinned to the upper end-of .the shaft35 and drives a gear ring 42 which -is attached to the crownspiral gear 43. This gearrotates on the center shaft'27. The 10 teeth 44 of the spiral gear are cut in a rim extending upwardly from its upper face. Another gear ring 45 is secured on the spiral gear. The gear ring 45 drives a pinion 46 which is pinned to another short shaft 46". This shaft turns in a bearing 47 caston the stationary disc 48. This disc is also rigidly attached to the center shaft 27 so as to prevent it from rotating. A plurality of bearings 49 extend radially from the periphery of the disc 48, and in these hearings spirai pinions 5O rotate on shafts 51. The locations of these hearings and pinions are plainly shown on Fig. and it will be seen that all these pinions mesh in the teeth 44 cut on the gear These pinions actuate the shuttles, but this will be explained later.

A pinion 52 pinned to the upper end of shaft 46 and (ifivGS the gear ring 53 which is secured to the circular casting 54. This casting, which is free to rotate on the center shaft 27, consists of a lower, circular flange 55 and an upper cone 56. This cone is provided with a circumferential cam 57 cast integral with it, and an upper and lower cams 58 and 59 which are secured in seats formed on it. Fragments of these cams are shown in Figs. 5 6.

The warp threads 12 are carried upward through an eye 60, then through a tension device 62, a spring-actuated tension arm 63 and through an eye in a spacing ring 64, before being engaged by the heddles 13 and 13". The eye 60 and the tension devices 62 and 63 are formed and supported on wire standards 61, and these standards are mounted on a ring 65, made of insulating material. Ametal ring 66 is placed in a seat in the insulating ring and the tension arm 63 is so constructed and proportioned that, if the thread 12 breaks, the arm will snap down and contact with the ring 66, as shown in the dotted position at 63. If the arm 63 and ring 66 are connected by wires 67 and 68 to an electric switch, the breaking of 'anyjwgrp thread will cause the loom to stop. To facilitate the bobbins removal from the spindles 69 on which they are mounted, trhe-spindles are attached on spiral springs g The warp threads, after passing through the spacing ring 64 which has a notch for each thread, are engaged by the heddles which lift and lower each alternate thread; these motions being imparted to the heddles by the cams. 30 and 31. The threads then pass through the thread spacers 38 and 71 andare gathered through the'throat 14. This throat consists of a. circular bushing 72, inserted in a frame 73 which'is supported on the posts 19 some distance above the parts 'sofar de- 1 scribed. The thread spacer 71, which is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, consists of a plurality of segments provided with slots 74 and each of these segments are supported on swinging" arms 75, adjustably hinged in bearings 76 which are cast on the frame 73. y

The table, which is cast with a concentric opening, has two seats in which annular heddle guides 77 and 78 are secured. These guides are provided with open slots in which the needles slide.

The construction of the shuttles 15 and the manner in which they are revolved will now beexplained. The shuttles are, preferably, made of sheet metal and each consists of a back plate, the contour of which is readily seen by referring to Fig. 4. The back plate the bobbin. Eac shuttle is provided with a.

spiral geared segment 91 which engages with several of the pinions 50. The bearings 49 are provided with guides 92 which dovetail between the segments 91 and the ribs 93, thus forming a continuous track for the shuttles as they are revolved by thepinions 50. As previously stated, the pinions are actuated by the spiral gear'43. An angular cut 94 narrows down the outer, upper corners of the bearings 49 so as to allow the warp thread to straddle them.

As already stated, motion is imparted to the heddles by the cams 30 and 31. The engaging surfaces of the cams are wavy, as shown in Fig.7, and each alternate heddle has a portion cut out of its lower end so that alternate heddlesare operated, res ctively, by cams 30 and 31. This is clearl s own in Fig. 3, where heddle 13 is engage in the bottom of a wave, as at 95 in Fig. 7, and heddle 13" is engaged on top of a wave, as at 96 in Fig. 7

The heddles are slotted at the upper ends and the warp threads engage in these slots. As each alternate warp thread is lifted, the toe 7 9 enters between the threads and the threads are further separated by the shuttle as it passes between them. The further separation being caused by the back of the shuttle, the apron 82 and the various ribs contained on theshut tle. i I

As the shuttles revolve the weft threads 89 is se- 84 are laid between the warp thread and forced into their proper place,by the weftengaging fingers 97, which are mounted on the cam 57 and actuated by this cam and the cams 58-and 59. These'fing'ers are, as shown in Fig. 3, held in position by the cam 57'and they are spaced, radially, by slotted spacer rings98 and 99. The ring 98 being rigidly secured to the stationaryshaft 27 and the ring 99 mounted on upright supports 100 I which are cast on the stationary disc 48.

A fulcrum 101, formed substantially cen tral of the length of the fingers, engage place. The toes 104of, the fingers are moved tween the warp. threads and, moving upward, engage the weft threads, placing them in their binations may beobtained. 'In like manner,

forward and backward by the actions of the cams 58 and 59; the fingers rocking on the fulcrums 101. This will be easily understood by an examination of the depressions 105 and 106 in cams 58 and 59, as shown in Fi 5. An examination of-Fig. 6 will also show't at, as the cone 56 revolves, the fingers are lowered each time the depressions 103 in the cam 57 pass behind them. It will thus be seen that as the shuttles revolve, the toes 104 enter becorrect position. -After' the weft threads are in place, the toes are lowered and drawn rearwardly out of engagement so as to allow the, .next'shuttle to pass.

The finished mat'erial'lG, which as will be noted is woven cylindrical or tubular, passes up through the throat 14, being fed upwardly by the toes 104. A circular collar 107, slideably mounted on a turned down portion of the shaft 27 is located in the throat to help guide the material-under certain conditions The material as it is woven passes over the roller 17 and is wound on the roller 18; both these rollers being supported on an upper frame 109 attached on the posts 19. The r01- ler 18, which is friction driven by a spring 110,-is actuated from the main shaft 21. A bevel gear 111 is secured on this shaft and drives another bevel gear 112, secured on a vertical shaft 113. On the upper end of this shaft a worm 114 is secured which drives a earlier that the material was fed by the toes 104, the material may also be drawn'upward by the drum 18. In this manner it is possible, byi l varying the tension on this drum, to weave fabrics with more orless open texture. It will also'be clear that as a plurality of shuttles. are employed, various color com-.

various designs may be woven by not operating alternate heddles on the cams 30 and 31 as described, but, for example, by operating two heddles on cam 30, then two heddles on cam 31 and so on, alternating the heddles on these cams in various combinations.

, 18, and drawn taut by a weight 118. As soon In starting the loom, the warp threads are gathered together as shown in Fig. 8 tied to a cord which passes over the rollers 1 and as sufiicient material is woven, iti's attached oirthe roller 18 and the we1ght1 18 removed.

Having described my invention what I claim as. new and wish to protect'by. Letters Patent is: I

1'. In a circular loom; a plurality of bobbins supplying the warp threads; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles engaging said warp thread; two heddle-actuat- 1n cams for lifting alternate warp threads; sald heddles being interchangeable so that they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; one or more shuttles supplying the weft thread; and

actuating cams for lifting certain warp threads and depressing others so that the shuttle or shuttles may pass under said lifted and over said depressed threads; said heddles being interchangeable so that they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; and means for revolving said shuttle or. shuttles.

3. In a circular loom; a plurality of bobbins supplying the warp thread; a plurality ofradially disposed independent heddles engaging said war thread; one or more shuttles supplying t e weft thread; two heddleactuating cams for lifting certain warp. threads and depressing others so that the shuttle or shuttles may pass under said lifted and over said depressed threads; said hcd dles being interchangeable so that they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective camsprneans for revolving said respective cams; means for revolvingsaid shuttles; and a plurality of fingers for correctly placing said weft thread while feeding the finished material.

'5. In a circular loom; a plurality of 'bobbins supplying the warp thread; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles engaging said' warp thread; one or more shuttl'es supplying the weft thread; two heddleactuating. cams for lifting certain warpthreads and depressing-others so that the shuttle or shuttles-may pass under said lifted and over said depressed threads; said heddles beinginterchangeable so that they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; means for revolving said shuttle or shuttles; and means for spacing the warp threads to prevent their displacement b the shuttle or shuttles passing between t em. I

6. In a circular loom; a plurality of bob- I bins supplying the warp thread; a plurality of radially disposd independent heddles engaging said warp thread; one or more shuttles supplying the weft thread; two heddleactuating cams for lifting certain warp threads and depressing others so'that the shuttles may enter between said. lifted and said depressed. threads said heddles being interchangeable so that they may he arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; means for revolving saidshuttles; and means provided on the shuttles for further lifting and depressing the Warp threads as they pass therebetween.

7. In a circular loom; a plurality of bobbins supplying the warp threads; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles engaging said warp threads; two heddle-actuatmg cans for lifting alternate warp threads; said heddles being interchangeable so that they may be arranged in Various combinations on their respective cams; one or more shuttles supplying the weft thread from a bobbin contained therein; said bobbins rotating onhinged spindles to facilitate their removal; and means for revolving said shuttles through the alternated threads.

8. In a circular loom; a plurality of bobbins supplying the warp threads; said bobbins rotating on spindles having flexible attachingmeans; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles engaging said warp threads; two heddle-actuating cams for lifting alternate warp threads; said heddles being interchangeable so that they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; one or, more shuttles .supplying the weft thread; and means forrevo ving said shuttles through the alternated threads. i I

9. In a circular loom;va plurality of bobbins supplying the warp thread; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles engaging said warp thread; one or more shuttles supplying the weft thread; two heddleactuating cams for lifting certain warp.

threads and depressing others so that the shuttle or 'shuttlesmay pass under said lifted and pm said depressed threads; said heddles being? interchangeable sothat they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; means for revolving said shuttles; a pluralit of fingersfor correctly placing the weft t reads'while feeding the finished material; and a. circular .throat through which said material is fed.

10. In a circular loom; a plurality of bobbins supplying the warp thread; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles engaging said warp thread; one or more shuttles supplying the weft thread; two heddleactuating cams for lifting certain warp threads and depressing others so that the shuttle or shuttles may pass. under said lifted and over said depressed threads; said heddles being interchangeable so that they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; means for revolvingsaid shuttles; a plurality of fingers for correctly placing the weft threads while feeding the finished material; a circular throat through which the material is fed; and a roller for winding the finished material.

11'. In a circular loom; a plurality of bobbins supplying the Warp thread; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles engaging said warp thread; one or more shut,

tles supplying the weft thread; two heddlethreads and depressing others so that the shuttle or shuttles may pass under said lifted and over said depressed threads; said heddles being interchangeable so that they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; means for revolving said shuttles; a plurality of fingers for correctly placing the weft threads while feeding the finished material; a circular throat through which the material is fed; and a roller for winding the finished material; said roller being friction driven.

12 In a circular loom; a plurality of bobbins supplying the warp thread; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles engaging said warp thread; one or more shuttles supplying the weft thread; two bed dle-actuating cams for lifting certain warp threads and depressing others so that the shuttle or shuttles may pass under said lifted and over said depressed threads; said heddles being interchangeable sothat they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; means for revolving said shuttles; a plurality of fingers for correctly placing the weft threads while feeding the finished material; a. circular throat through which the material is fed; a friction driven roller for winding the material as finished; and means for.ad usting the friction on said roller so that the finished material may-be advanced at a. greater speed than that imparted by thesaid weft-engaging fingers.

13. In a circular loom; a plurality of bobbins supplying the warp thread; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles engaging said War 1 thread; one or more shuttles supplying t e weft thread; two heddle-actuatin cams for lifting certain warp threads an depressing others so that the shuttle or shuttles may pass under said lifted and over saiddepressed threads; s'aid heddles being interchangeable so thatthey may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; means for revolving said shuttles; a plurality of fingers for correctly placing the weft threads while feeding the finished material; a circular throatthrough which the material is fed; a roller for windmg the finished material; and an intermediate roller for spreading the cylindrically v woven material prior'to its winding on the gaging first mentioned roller.

14. In a circular m; a plurality of bobbins supplying the warp thread; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles en- 'g ing said warp thread; one or more shuttles supplying the, weft thread; two heddleactuating cams for lifting certain warp threads and depressing others so that the shuttle or shuttles may pass under said lifted and over said depressed threads; said heddles being interchangeable so that they may be ar ranged in various combinations on their respective cams; means for revolving said shuttles; a plurality of fingers for correctly plac-' in g the weft threads while finishing the material; a circular throat through which the finished material is fed; and a slidable collar located inside the throat.

15. In a circular loom; a plurality of bobbins supplying the warp threads; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles ensaid warp threads; two heddle-actuating cams for lifting alternate warp threads; said heddles being interchangeable so that they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; one or more shuttles supplying the weft thread; means for revolving said shuttles between the alternated threads; and automatic means for stopping the 100111; said means being actuated by the'breaking of any warp thread.

16. In a circular loom; a plurality of bobbins supplying the warp thread; a plurality of radially disposed independent heddles engaging said warp thread; one or more shuttle-s supplying the weft thread; two heddle-actuating cams for lifting certain warp threads and depressing others so that the shuttles may pass under said lifted and over said depressed threads; said heddles being interchangeable so that they may be arranged in various combinations on their respective cams; means for revolving said shuttles; slotted rings for'spacing the Warp thread and preventing displacement thereof; one of said rings being formed of segments; and each of said segments swingably mounted. v

ROBERT G. CLARK. 

